Chapter 227 - A Good Show (II)

The guests were watching the kind and filial princess at the platform with admiring eyes. They were pleasantly listening to this heartwarming scene.

"Until... I visited the country of Haiti." Xiong Wuyue's tone suddenly turned sad here.

"Oh. I've watched news regarding that as well. When you became the Model of the Year, there were news you visited a certain town in Haiti. If I'm not wrong, your team should have given quite a donation there right?" the host timely asked, following up with the dialogue written in the script. But he delivered it so expertly that no one seemed to notice this act.

Xiong Wuyue nodded, her eyes solemnly glistened while reminiscing.

"We went to a rural town. The daily lives of the people living in that town was... really difficult. They do not have a proper water supply system, so there's no clear drinking water available to them. The food they served for their meals depends on the crops they could harvest. If there was drought, there's no food on the table. We could not even live for one day there. That was when I woke up, that the life I've been living like a princess... was something that I should be really grateful for." These heartwarming words made quite a lot of the audience, whether the guests in the hall or the people watching the live stream, fall into a more solemn mood as well. 

The Model of the Year was right. Everything they have right now was something one should be thankful for.

Song Xuantin inched nearer to Xiong Zhi again.

"Is this really a birthday party? Why do I feel like it's an interview show after doing a charity mission in some rural town?" 

Xiong Zhi glanced at Song Xuantin.

"You're not moved at all with all her 'saintly' deeds?" 

Song Xuantin found Xiong Zhi's question funny.

"My parents do this every year. But not because they want to, but they have to, like what many other famous artists do to preserve their image. Ahem, but it's different for me, I volunteered," Song Xuantin smirked, boasting her own 'saintly' deeds.

Xiong Zhi moved her face a bit farther from the other.

"You still lost against me who donated nineteen billion." If there was a talk of who did 'more' helping, then no doubt Xiong Zhi would win. 

The two who heard her: "..."

William Grand heard of the news wherein the Young Miss of the Xiong family became the major donator in this year's IAmFashinosta event. It was newsworthy enough to shock the world, so of course he heard some discussions about it.

The play in front was not done yet.

Xiong Wuyue silently looked at the guests. Seeing that she caught their empathy and sympathy, she felt that day of suffering when she had to make a trip in that disgusting town and take a picture with those nauseating children was worth it. As the Model of the Year, she needed to do some merits to further stabilize her title. Every time she remembered that nightmare of being surrounded by smelly people made her want to gag. But now she was thankful for that great sacrifice she had made that day. 

The 'saintly' princess continued to exude her holy light. 

"So, if the heavens would grant me a wish, then I would rather he grant the wishes of those people who are in need. If it's boundless water, let it be. If it's abundant food, so be it. If it's good health for the weak, let it be that way. If it's for the peace of each family and between countries, why not? I hope that one wish could fulfill everyone's wishes," Xiong Wuyue's soft voice and warm answer seemed to move the audience's hearts. 

Xiong De proudly smiled at her daughter, then he peeked at William expectantly.

William who was being looked at with such obvious hope: "..." 

'Did he really expect me to feel moved and say some heartfelt words?'

"Your daughter... is quite a magnanimous lady," William still said it. He was not stingy with words, so he generously gave out his praises.

Xiong De's smile grew wider. "Thank you for the praise. My daughter has always been like that since young." 

Xiong Zhi who heard those incomparably shameless words: "...."

"So, your cousin is a bit...'like that'...since young?" Song Xuantin softly whispered to Xiong Zhi so only she could hear, her hand pointing a finger at her head. She had this expression of 'omg, you have this kind of cousin?' on her face, as if the 'like that' phrase from Xiong De meant 'mentally retarded'.

Xiong Zhi thought it was an insult to all the people with mental retardation illness around the globe.

"We will not get along well," Song Xuantin certainly declared.

Xiong Zhi usually did not really care for Song Xuantin's mumblings since most of the time, it was nonsense. But she was curious this time.

"What do you mean?"

Song Xuantin leaned back to her position. "You know, acting like a saint. I'm a very straightforward person. That's why even though you have this paralysis face illness sometimes, which at least had improved, I still chose you to be my friend." 

"Pfft." Xiong Gaiyu who sat beside Song Xuantin inadvertently laughed at hearing her words. She somehow understood who Song Xuantin was talking about. The 'Fake Saintess' and 'Paralysis Illness', these two perfectly described her two cousins.

Xiong Zhi did not comment any longer. She was right to ignore her mumblings all along, as they were all full of nonsense.

She unconsciously took her glass and checked her reflection on it. She tried to show a smile. Her smile was actually getting better now, she was also showing more expressions, ah.

"That's really wonderful, Young Miss Wuyue. You're not only beautiful, but you have a kind heart as well. Your future husband is surely lucky," the host teased and the guests laughed cooperatively.

Xiong Wuyue just laughed like a shy lady.

"That will still be in the future..." Xiong Wuyue embarrassedly said, but her eyes glanced at her surroundings, searching. Not finding the person she wanted to see, she glanced at her father questioningly.

Xiong De just smiled at her, encouraging her. Xiong Wuyue eye's dimmed slightly. Her father did not nod. That man did not come.

***

Like every grand debut, there were Eighteen Candles, Eighteen Gifts, Eighteen Roses, and the likes. The chosen people were of course the invited big shots in the high society, as well as some of the close friends. Even William Grand was counted in as one of the Eighteen Roses.

Song Xuantin, who was waiting for Xiong Zhi's turn as one of the Eighteen Candles or Eighteen Gifts which were usually for family and girlfriends, was speechless when the last one, the Eighteenth Rose stood up and walked to the front to congratulate and dance with the debutant.

Again, she inched closer to Xiong Zhi's side.

"You're not part of any of that?" 

"No," Xiong Zhi leisurely answered.

"Then, why the heck did you come here?"

Xiong Zhi turned to her. "I told you, to advertise you."

Song Xuantin studied her for a moment. Why did she feel like there were other reasons? But she could not figure it out. Xiong Zhi's face has paralysis on again. Her expressions and thoughts were hard to read. She turned to Xiong Gaiyu who was a Xiong, too, and asked without considering who she was talking to.

"You're not close with her?" Song Xuantin used her mouth to point at Xiong Wuyue.

Xiong Gaiyu looked perplexedly at Song Xuantin. She found this friend of Xiong Zhi a bit...indelicate. That was the best description she could find other than coarse, uncouth, vulgar, etc. They belonged to the highest circle of the society. Politeness and manners were usually strictly adhered to. But Song Xuantin seemed to forget that. 

However, she did not look like... the indelicate type, especially when she talked to the other big shots before. She was graceful and smiled like a mature woman. Maybe she was like this, in private only? However, Xiong Gaiyu was still surnamed Xiong. Shouldn't people still be more careful on how they treated her?

But since she was the Young Miss' friend, Xiong Gaiyu still had to answer courteously, to give respect to Young Miss Zhi.

"We're not close—" Xiong Gaiyu's eyes widened when she realized she had accidentally spoken her honest thoughts. She tried to take it back. "—before. But now, cousins should stay as cousins after all." She almost dropped her guard down around this woman. It was all because of this person's straightforwardness and unrestrained nature.

Xiong Gaiyu inched away from Song Xuantin. She better avoid people like her.

Song Xuantin did not take notice, simply nodded and looked at the girl under the spotlight. Her eyes were in deep thought.

As the closing of the gifts were about to end, Xiong Zhi finally stood up.

She was not here only to advertise her future money trees and watch quietly. She was also here to have fun.

Song Xuantin, Xiong Gaiyu, William, and Xiong De all simultaneously looked at her the moment she stood up. 

The first three wondered where she would be going.

Xiong De, on the other hand, almost stood up to block her. His heart leaped.

Anything related to this Young Miss would surely blow her daughter's control away. Just seeing the Young Miss stare fixedly at his daughter made Xiong De palpitate in apprehension. He was afraid that something might happen. Remembering his daughter's face after returning from the Zhou Mansion, Xiong De's face blackened. He knew that Xiong Zhi knew how to use physical force, despite her slender and seemingly boneless body. If these two fought, they would surely lose a lot of face. And now that Xiong Zhi had risen in status, Old Xiong would surely side with Xiong Zhi. 

Yet, after a moment, he sat back when a thought came to him.

'Or maybe if Xiong Zhi screwed up here, that Old Xiong who always put his surname first before anything else, might feel disappointed with her. Perhaps, he will end up revoking the title he granted to Xiong Zhi as the official heir. Everything would be smooth then, as it should be.'

Xiong De glanced at his daughter. His worry was mainly because he knew his daughter well. If these two caused a commotion, his daughter might just take off all pretentiousness and bare her fangs in public to attack Xiong Zhi. 

Xiong De closed his eyes firmly. This was a good opportunity. He could just say that it was Xiong Zhi who had mocked Xiong Wuyue in her own birthday banquet.

He just hoped that his daughter would see this opportunity and hold back her anger just this once. 

Once he saw that everything would go in a wrong direction, then he would step in.